MANDATES: Workplace insights

I read Jim Jones’ Sept. 15 op-ed and would like to point readers to the Case Characteristics and Deaths by Demographics information at the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare’s tracking site.

OSHA is seeking the mandate on an emergency approval basis. While working-age Idahoans dominate the number of cases, deaths are dominated by the elderly. The reasonableness of a workplace mandate as meeting an emergency workplace need is therefore questionable.

Of course those vaccinated will also be less likely to infect any elderly people with whom they have contact, but that’s public health and none of OSHA’s beeswax.

The sky might not be falling but it very well could be that OSHA is urinating down our backs and claiming it’s raining.

And, for cryin’ in a beer, please get vaccinated already.

THOMAS A. HENNIGAN

Asotin, Wash.